Could This Chelsea Man Be The Next Big Thing?

Signing relatively early in the transfer window, Andre Schurrle arrived at Stamford Bridge somewhat under the radar.

Still only 22 years of age, the forward is a regular in Germany’s international setup, scoring seven goals in 25 appearances since making his debut in 2010.  He featured during his country’s qualification campaign for Euro 2012 and was also included in the 23-man squad for the tournament itself.

Schurrle started his professional career at Mainz, who benefited greatly from his performances as they finished ninth and fifth respectively during his two seasons in the first team.  After 20 goals in 66 league games, he moved to Bayer Leverkusen, where he recorded a similar record of 23 in 83 in all competitions.  As well as competing at the top end of the Bundesliga (Leverkusen finished fifth and third during his two years at the club), Schurrle also experienced playing in the Champions League.  The 22-year-old could now potentially come up against his former employers in the competition with Chelsea.

Having paid a fee reported to be in the region of £18 million for the player, Blues fans will be expecting big things of Schurrle.  His timing of arrival, however, couldn’t be better, with the excitement surrounding Jose Mourinho’s return perhaps buying him some time to impress.

Germany’s top flight has become a hub of talent in recent years, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund’s domination in last season’s Champions League putting the rest of Europe on notice.  As one of the latest to emerge, Schurrle has a bright future ahead of him, and he is now set to become the latest player to flourish under the guidance of ‘The Special One’.

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